CRICKET/Round-up: Another wonderful innings from Irish international Trent Johnston booked Clontarf's place in the semi-final of the Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup, when they beat Pembroke by eight wickets at Castle Avenue yesterday.
Sharing an unbeaten 190-run partnership with Dominic Rigby, Johnston plundered 120 runs off just 91 balls, a knock that included 17 fours and three sixes.
With Johnston and Rigby (68 not out) at the wicket, 'Tarf passed Pembroke's total of 222 with eight wickets and 11.4 overs to spare.
They now travel to Strabane for what will be an extremely challenging game for a place in the final on August 27th.
Eoin Morgan, the 17-year-old who scored a century yesterday for Middlesex's second XI, is back in the Ireland squad for next week's Inter-Continental Cup match against Scotland at Castle Avenue. Cliftonville all-rounder Kyle McCallan is unavailable as he is getting married.
Ireland only have to draw this three-day game (August 6th-8th) in order to qualify for the semi-finals, to be played in Dubai in November. After victory over the Netherlands earlier this month, Ireland lie top of the group with 30 points with Scotland second on 17.5, but with 14 points for a win together with bonus bowling and batting points on offer, Ireland's trip to Dubai is still not assured.
Play starts at 11 a.m. and entry per day is 5 for adults and free fro under-16s and senior citizens.
IRELAND SQUAD: J Molins (capt, Phoenix), A Botha (North County), J Bray (Phoenix), P Gillespie (Strabane), T Johnston (Clontarf), D Joyce (Dublin Univ/Merrion), P Mooney (North County), E Morgan (Middlesex CCC/North County), S Ogilby (Cheshire), N Shoukat (Rush), G Thompson (Lisburn), A White (Instonians).
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